Road freight body Transporting New Zealand is welcoming the Government’s release of targeted actions to improve road safety.
The action plan focuses on road policing and enforcement, plus safer roading infrastructure.
Transporting NZ board member and freight company general manager Scott Johnstone says the targets are a good step to improve the safety of New Zealanders.
“Cracking down on alcohol and drug impairment on the roads is essential to reducing deaths and injuries on our roads.”
According to Ministry of Transport figures, in 2022 there were 163 fatal crashes, 144 serious injury crashes, and 776 minor injury crashes where driver alcohol/drugs was a contributing factor.
“The road freight industry sees the terrible impact of these crashes up close, so we’re highly supportive of increasing the number of alcohol breath tests, enabling roadside drug testing, and higher visibility policing of all road users,” Johnstone says.
The Government’s commitment to building safer, modern roads (including through the Roads of National Significance and Roads of Regional Significance programmes) is also a step in the right direction, he adds.
“We know that newer roads are safer for all motorists. A 2023 Study by the AA Research Foundation found that eight new stretches of highway or expressway around the country had resulted in a 37% reduction in deaths and serious injuries.
“Projects like Ōtaki to north of Levin Highway in Greater Wellington, Manawatū Tararua Highway, and Belfast to Pegasus motorway in Canterbury will substantially improve safety, as well as efficiency.
“As a general manager, I will feel a lot better knowing that our drivers and their families are operating on safer, modern roads with effective policing of alcohol and drug impaired drivers,” Johnstone says.
